19 Jul 1998: Pitcher Kerry Ligtenberg #46 of the Atlanta Braves in action during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves defeated the Brewers 11-6. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport

The first thing St. Paul Saints pitchers notice about Kerry Ligtenberg, their low-key pitching coach, is his humble nature.

Ligtenberg would have every right to walk around Midway Stadium boasting about his major league career, which included a memorable six-year run as a reliever with the Atlanta Braves.

A member of five National League West Division title winners, and a member of a staff that included Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, Ligtenberg could stick out his chest and remind his pitchers he’s been there and done that.

But he doesn’t.

“I didn’t come here to tell guys what I did in the big leagues and that they have to do things this way or that way,” Ligtenberg said as he prepares for his second season with the Saints. “I observe a lot. When a guy is struggling, then I’ll say something.”

Ligtenberg, 42, had enough fun and satisfaction in 2012 to make his return to the independent league Saints an easy decision. The Park of Cottage Grove graduate and his wife, Sarah, are raising three kids in Eagan, overshadowing the desire to return to a major league organization.

As part of the Saints’ coaching staff, Ligtenberg can concentrate on developing the team’s pitchers and sharing his insights. One of his pitchers, right-hander Mark Hamburger, is trying to make it back to the majors after making five relief appearances with the Texas Rangers in 2011.

Hamburger, starting the Saints’ season opener Thursday night at Midway Stadium, was suspended by Major League Baseball last year for violating its banned substance policy.

Based on policy guidelines, Hamburger, 26, will have to sit out 50 games if a major league team signs him and sends him to a minor league affiliate. The suspension has not deterred teams from keeping tabs on him; scouts from several major league teams, including the Twins, plan to attend Thursday night’s game to watch Hamburger.

Ligtenberg knows this is an opportunity for him to help guide Hamburger through the scrutiny he’s expected to face. Part of the reason for the interest in Hamburger is that scouts still believe he has a major league arm.

“He has enough stuff to get back to the majors,” Ligtenberg said. “His stuff is better than half of the guys in the big leagues. It’s just a matter of him keeping his head on right and doing his work. So far, he’s been impressive.”

Hamburger’s work ethic will be critical. When Ligtenberg was with Atlanta, he saw first-hand how diligence and preparation helped Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz make the Braves a perennial playoff contender. The Braves reached 100 wins in four of the six seasons Ligtenberg was with the team.

In 1998, Ligtenberg was the Braves’ closer and successful in 30 of 34 save opportunities, earning him enough votes to finish fourth in National League rookie of the year balloting. Ligtenberg hasn’t forgotten the impression Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz made on him, and when the time is right, he intends to share some of that experience with his pitchers, particularly Hamburger, who might have a short stint with the Saints if he pitches well.

“I don’t talk about Atlanta too much because I’m a lot older than the guys,” Ligtenberg said. “But I tell the guys the best way to get out of here (independent baseball) is to control your fastball and be able to throw a breaking ball and get it off the plate.

“Getting people out is what gets you looked at. That’s why Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz were so good. They had great control around the plate and were able to stay ahead of hitters.”

Ligtenberg is able to use his influence a little more with the Saints than he did when he was the head coach at Park High School, where he coached two years before getting the opportunity to join Saints manager George Tsamis’ staff.

Tsamis and Ligtenberg kept in touch after Ligtenberg pitched for the Saints in 2009 during a brief comeback. A knee injury ended that project and turned Ligtenberg’s thoughts to coaching. As a former independent player, Ligtenberg can relate to Saints pitchers even more, a bonus for Tsamis in hiring Ligtenberg, who pitched two years for the independent Minneapolis Loons before getting a contract offer with the Braves’ minor league system in 1996.

“The guys here can look at Kerry as somebody who got the job done on this level, got a chance and made the most of it,” Tsamis said.

Briefly

The Saints will open the season with nine players from Minnesota on the roster, the most in seven years. Catcher Mark Radmacher of Maplewood became the ninth player when he was added to the roster Wednesday. Radmacher played at Hamline.

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